In a recent article writer Paula Wall explains, "In May 2004, Buffalo artist and university professor Steve Kurtz woke up to find that his wife, Hope, had stopped breathing. He called 911 and was subsequently plunged into a nightmare that is still going on. Kurtz and his wife were founding members of the Critical Art Ensemble (CAE), which mounts exhibits sometimes critical of public health and military programs. In his home studio were biological materials for an upcoming exhibit about genetically modified agriculture at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA)."

What happened next is the subject of a new documentary film by Lynn Hershman Leeson entitled "Strange Culture." The official site says," Within hours the artist was detained as a suspected "bioterrorist" as dozens of federal agents in Hazmat suits sifted through his work and impounded his computers, manuscripts, books, his cat, and even his wife’s body. Today Kurtz and his long-time collaborator Dr. Robert Ferrell, Professor of Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, await a trial date."

Wisconsin in the movies
Can the dairy state become the Hollywood of the Midwest?
October 22, 2007
by Kevin Kosterman
(originally published in the UW Oshkosh Advance-Titan)

Wisconsin is no stranger to the movies: The Cleveland Indians called Milwaukee County Stadium home in “Major League;” Rodney Dangerfield went “Back to School” at UW-Madison; and John Candy’s polka band in “Home Alone” was “huge in Sheboygan.”

Now with established ties to the film industry and attractive new tax incentives, Wisconsin is poised to usher in a Golden Age of filmmaking and, in turn, keep some of its brightest homegrown talent in state. The rewards are huge, but so are the challenges.

“Right now is probably the most opportune time in history to create a really vibrant film and television production community in Wisconsin,” said Scott Robbe, executive director of Film Wisconsin, a private sector non-profit dedicated to nurturing and maintaining the state’s film and media industry.

Robbe cited a convergence of factors as cause for optimism.

First and foremost, Robbe said, was the state legislature’s passing last year (June, 2006) of an aggressive set of tax incentives intended to lure Hollywood money and jobs to the state. The Film Wisconsin Bill (Senate Bill 563), pushed by Robbe and his associates, offers tax credits of up to 25 percent to companies who shoot in the state, which will apply to a film’s production costs, including lighting, makeup, company expenditures and workers’ wages.

According to Robbe, the Coen brothers (“Fargo,” “The Big Lebowski”) were set to film their upcoming picture in Wisconsin, but because of the budget impasse — that Robbe said put a hold on an estimated $100 million worth of potential business — the rules and definitions for the incentives have not yet been published, so the Oscar-winning filmmakers took their business to Minnesota.

With rising real-estate prices and production costs in traditional filmmaking centers, Robbe said Wisconsin and other Midwestern states are becoming more and more attractive to filmmakers.

“The sheer difficulty of the logistics of filming on location in New York and L.A. now are starting to make it cost-prohibitive,” he said. “Hollywood is looking for new regional film hubs.”
And Wisconsin provides the right blend of affordability, talent and budding infrastructure to woo potential business, Robbe said calling the stretch between Chicago and Door County “the new affordable, film-friendly third coast.”

Benefits of a successful filmmaking industry in the state would be enormous, Robbe said, and would include a huge influx of new revenue, a host of employment opportunities, a new tax base and the retention of multitudes of college graduates who otherwise flock to the New York and Los Angeles in search of work in entertainment.

“That’s going to help to not only lure back people who have had to leave previously to other coasts to work in the film and television industries, but also to keep all of the young talent that graduates from the education system here in Wisconsin…” he said.

UW-Oshkosh alumnus Nick Kaat made the move to Los Angeles after graduating in 2005 to pursue his dreams of being a part of the film industry. He agreed that having a vibrant filmmaking market in Wisconsin would help retain many film-school graduates, but cautioned against over-emphasizing the potential impact.

“I think the hardcore people who really want to go for the big movies or big television shows — those who have the Hollywood itch — they’re still going to leave and I think they still have to,” he said. “No matter what, Wisconsin is not going to be the film production capital of the world.”

With similar tax incentives already in place in surrounding states like Illinois and Minnesota, Kaat said it will be tough for Wisconsin to sell itself as the only destination that provides a Midwestern look and feel, and the lack of an established film community will hurt the state at first.

“Not that it can’t be changed over time, but in the beginning people aren’t going to flock to Wisconsin,” he said. “Therefore the year-round market for filmmaking is going to be kind of rough.”

UW-Oshkosh radio/TV/film professor Douglas Heil said creating a sustainable filmmaking scene in Wisconsin would also be difficult because the changing of seasons prevents the type of year-round filming conditions that make film centers like Los Angeles, Louisiana and New Mexico desirable locations.

“I hope it’s not pie-in-the-sky thinking,” he said, “but I’m skeptical.”
Robbe said he feels that Wisconsin is culturally and politically ready to embrace the entertainment business and hopes that efforts like Film Wisconsin will help create a fertile environment in which filmmaking in the state can flourish and become a boon for the overall economy.

“Wisconsin now has put in place the elements that can make Wisconsin a leader in the film and television production industry,” he said. “What we have to do is finish the job we started.”

Movies Filmed in Wisconsin:

American Movie: Most people have heard of this movie and its weird stars by now. But if you haven't seen this yet, shame on you. Run to the video store nearest you now and see one of the funniest films ever made.

Amityville Horror: The remake of this classic horror tale had Silver Lake acting as the residence for the Amityville House's exterior while the interior was created in Buffalo Grove, Ill. in 2004.

Back to School: Classic Rodney Dangerfield comedy filmed at UW-Madison.

The Big One: Excellent documentary by UW alum Michael Moore filmed in Madison and Milwaukee.

The Blues Brothers: Elwood and Jake spent some time filming in Milwaukee and the Firstar Building can be spied as a car careens over the then-incomplete 794 freeway spur. Chicago? Who's kidding who?

Chain Reaction: This big budget action thriller starring Morgan Freeman and Keanu Reeves was filmed partly in Madison, Lake Geneva and Williams Bay.

Damien: Omen II and The Final Conflict: Omen III: Two of the sequels to one of the finest horror films ever made were filmed in Lake Geneva, Eagle River and Delafield. St. John's Military Academy got some screen time.

The Deep End of the Ocean: The big screen adaptation of Madison author Jacquelyn Mitchard's bestseller of the same name, which stars Michelle Pfieffer, was partly filmed in Madison.

Fever Lake: The horror movie starring Mario Lopez of "Save By the Bell" fame was filmed at Carthage College in Kenosha and in Twin Lakes.

For Keeps: This '80s classic starring Molly Ringwald was shot partly in Madison.

Hoop Dreams: Roger Ebert's favorite movie of the '90s filmed partly in Milwaukee.

I Love Trouble: Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte star in one of the most famous movies to be filmed in Wisconsin. It was filmed in Baraboo and Madison. According to Stanley Solheim at the Wisconsin Film Office, farmers picketed the film and tried to halt production.

Iron Will: Two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey stars in this film that filmed in Superior.

Major League: The team in the movie is the Cleveland Indians, but it should have been the Brew Crew. All of the stadium scenes were shot at our very own County Stadium. There were also outdoor scenes shot in the Third Ward, and a home on the corner of Kilbourn and Cass was used for interior shots.

Meet the Applegates: This dark comedy about a family of alien bugs living in surburbia was filmed in Neenah and Oshkosh.

Milwaukee, Minnesota: A tribute to Milwaukee it's not, but the indie dark comedy was filmed primarily in the Bay View area in Milwaukee. Kinnickinnic Avenue is shown prominently in the 2002 film which released almost three years later in June '05.

Mr. 3000: Comedian Bernie Mac starred in this baseball themed movie in 2003. Scenes were shot at the newly completed Miller Park. In between innings at Brewers games, shots of the movie were filmed.

Mrs. Soffel: One of Mad Max Mel Gibson's first starring roles, opposite Diane Keaton, briefly filmed in Freedom.

Novocaine: This movie filmed in Cedarburg over the summer. It stars Steve Martin, Kevin Bacon, Laura Dern and Helena Bonham Carter.

The Paint Job: The comedy/thriller was filmed in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Racine. The story was about a painter falling in love with his boss' wife.

One Night Stand: Acclaimed director Mike Figgis ("Leaving Las Vegas") filmed parts of this Wesley Snipes movie in Milwaukee, although exactly which parts are unclear.

Reeseville: It's an independent film about a murder set in the Midwest. Several cities were filming locations for the flick like Milwaukee, Madison, Watertown, Jefferson and, the movie's title location, Reeveville.

Rudy: The "Rocky" of college football movies, starring "The Goonies" Sean Astin, was partly filmed in Milwaukee.

Semi-Tough: Burt Reynolds' football movie has some scenes that were filmed in Green Bay.

A Simple Plan: Director Sam Raimi ("Evil Dead" and its sequels) filmed his 1998 masterpiece in Ashland because there wasn't enough snow in Minnesota. It stars Bill Paxton, Billy Bob Thornton and Bridget Fonda.

The Straight Story: Last year's beautiful David Lynch ("Twin Peaks," "Lost Highway") movie, which stars the late Richard Farnsworth, filmed in Mount Zion and Prairie du Chien. If you haven't already, see this movie ASAP.

Uncle Buck: The late, great John Candy filmed parts of this film in Lake Geneva.

Some other movies filmed in Wisconsin include Clive Barker's classic horror flick "Hellraiser," Christopher Lambert's action pic "The Hunted," "Angus" and "The Cure." But note, although at least one scene in "This is Spinal Tap" purports to be in Milwaukee, it is not.

Wisconsin References:

Anchorman: Ron Burgandy (Will Ferrell) has lost his precious dog Baxter. He gets a phone call that he thinks is from him and says "Bark twice if you're in Milwaukee."

Dogma: A dark comedy, Dogma has two angels trying to find a way back into heaven after they were exiled to Wisconsin. British actor Alan Rickman plays Metranon, the voice of god, who hilariously explains that there's something worse than being exiled to hell: "Worse. Wisconsin. For the entire span of human history."

Drop Dead Gorgeous: This satire about a beauty pagent in Minnesota finds itself amidst a murder mystery. One character says that the pagent cannot rule out sabotage from neighboring state pagents including Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Good Night and Good Luck: This 2005 movie makes numerous references to Wisconsin because Sen. McCarthy was the Junior Sentator from Wisconsin.

Love Actually: Although not truely shot in Wisconsin, British romantic comedy, "Love Actually," features a bar in Cedarburg when one character, Colin, goes to Wisconsin to meet American women (or babes in his phrasing). Plus it's a compliment when he says he's going "To a fantastic place called Wisconsin."

Stripes: Bill Murray stars in this war comedy. John Winger (Murrary) and Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis) are talking and Wisconsin makes an appearance. Winger says: "C'mon, it's Czechoslovakia. We zip in, we pick 'em up, we zip right out again. We're not going to Moscow. It's Czechoslovakia. It's like we're going into Wisconsin." Ziskey replies, "I once got my ass kicked in Wisconsin."

That Thing You Do!: A musical movie that Tom Hanks wrote, directed and starred in. The band he created becomes famous, almost like Beatle-mania all over again. One concert brings them to Wisconsin where the band members are mobbed by fans. As a group of girls climbs onto their car, one band members says "I like Wisconsin."

Titanic: This classic love story involving the ship sunk because of an ice berg, starring Leonardo DiCario and Kate Winslet. Jack claims to have grown up in Chippewa Falls, Wis. where he and his father would go ice fishing. However, the lake which he claims to have fished at didn't exist at the time the Titanic actually sunk. Lake Wissota is a man-made lake which was made five years after the ship sunk. It's still a shout out to Wisconsin though.

Wayne's World: Slackers and public access cable show hosts Wayne and Garth get the chance of a lifetime to meet Alice Cooper at his Milwaukee show. They have this memorable conversation:

My friend Coleen Rowley just posted an article in The Huffington Post that voices her outrage at a prominent Minnesota university that recently banned the appearance of Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu. It opens with the following:

"Last Tuesday, a couple of friends and I went to see the fantastic movie biography "Pete Seeger: the Power of Song". It featured great musical clips that told the unique life story of the folksinger and songwriter whose rendition of "We shall Overcome" inspired the civil rights movement (and anti-war movements). The inspirational movie also served as a timely reminder of the painful repression and vicious backstabbing that resulted from Joseph McCarthy's communist witch hunt back in the early 1950's. For a huge chunk of Seeger's life--17 years! -he was blacklisted. It was not until late in 1967 that the repression finally ended when the Smothers Brothers (courageous Comedy Hour) invited Seeger to perform on their TV show. And even then one of Seeger's songs, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," was censored. Only months later was he allowed to sing it on TV. No wonder the 88 year old Seeger has come to appreciate so much-as reflected in his lyrics-"the right to sing my song" that exists in America."